Chrisrad From Australia, joined Dec 2000, 892 posts, RR: 9 Posted (3 years 4 months 2 weeks 6 days 12 hours ago) and read 30514 times:
This is only one part of my trip which was:
MEL-BKK-HKT-BKK-LAX-LAS-SFO-LAX-IAD-BOS-MCO-JFK-BKK-MEL
Thai Airways was offering unbeatable deals in business class(Royal Silk) from Australia to the US. All of their new aircraft were on the routes I would be flying so I jumped at the chance to try them. Being a devout MH fan I was a bit skeptical at their levels of service, but for the price I was willing to try them. I was pleasantly suprised they exceeded my expecations, while they are not on the same level as MH in some parts of the service it was still excellent regardless.
Apologies for some of the blurry photos, but it's impossible to take dark cabin shots with a point and shoot camera, and you might notice some black spots on the photos, some dirt made its way onto the sensor.
Warning - I have included many photos and videos, definately for broadband users only.
20th August 2006
MEL-BKK
TG 982
Airbus A340-600 - HS-TND
Checkin at Melbourne Airport
We made our way through immmigration and security and went to the Air New Zealand lounge being used by TG for this flight
Lounge was very nice and new, hardly any food - but nonetheless better than nothing
Plenty to drink!
The toilet, impressive
QF 744 waiting on the ramp
The new gate areas of MEL
Our TG A346 waiting for us
Boarding
Welcome drink
Passengers settling into their seats
Waiting for pushback
Menu for todays flight
Ready for takeoff
Video of takeoff
First drink service
Inflight over Australia, the beautiful wing and engines of the A346
Our Menu for this flight
Entree, very nice presentation
Main course arriving on the trolley
Main course, I had the Salmon - presentation dissapointing in the casserole dish
Cheese and fruit service
Dessert, very nice!
Quick visit to the toilet
Window in the toilet, a nice suprise from the usual
Royal Silk Class forward cabin
60" pitch between seats, plenty for me
The Large PTV
Took some photos of the rather empty rear J class cabin
The lovely large engines of the A346
Snuck into Economy, looked quite good I must say!
Crappy Amenity kit, not as good as the Biotherm ones
Second Meal service
After a few days in Bangkok and Phuket it was time for the first of our ULH flights on the A345
27th August 2006
BKK-LAX
TG 794
Airbus A340-500
Don Muang Airport, seems more like an overcrowded shopping centre
Went to the lounge closest to our gate
A small snack
Massage chairs
Sleeping chairs
Going to our gate
Our A345 waiting for us
Standard welcome drink
Flight time looked a bit scary, thankfully it was wrong, only 15.30 hours
Waiting for pushback
The seat controller
Takeoff from BKK
Mood lighting for the first dinner service
Menu for our flight
Appetiszer
Entree
Main, again in the ugly casserole dish
Cheese and fruit, I had fruit only this time
Dessert
Much nicer Biotherm amenity kit
Second Meal service which they served at the end of the flight, the Third meal service dissapeared which others have mentioned
Getting closer towards our destination, sun slowly setting
Blurry cabin
The lights of Los Angeles
Landing at LAX video
3 Weeks all over the US and we were ready to return to Australia
16th September 2006
JFK-BKK
TG 791
Airbus A340-500
Checkin at JFK, was one of the nicest terminals I saw whilst in the country
Thai uses the Swiss Lounge at JFK
There is practically no food in the lounge, except for some token cheese and crackers.
Our A345 waiting for us at the gate
Flight time was slightly shorter at 17 hours only......
Boarding
The now standard welcome drink
Lining up with the runway
Takeoff
Cabin Crew begging the first drink service
Menu for this flight
Appetizer and drink
Entree
Crew at work, these two were the best and funniest flight attendants I had on the entire trip
Main course, I had the Prawn dish
Cheese and fruit off the trolley
Dessert and tea
Relaxing after the meal service
Biotherm amenity kit
Flying towards the north pole
Emerging from the ice
8 hours into the flight we had the second meal service
Entree
Main course, I had the Japanese noodles
Fruit
Dessert and Tea
Mood lighting to relax in
1 hour before landing came the 3rd meal service
Our route over the north pole
Decsending into BKK finally, I felt like instant death by this stage
Nice thunderstorm approaching the airport
Had to wait 8 hours in the lounge, quite frankly this was the worst lounge TG had, noisy and crowded ,kids running around, not much food selection.
Thankgod the new airport will open in a few days, it was way too crowded and I can't see the point of having the same duty free shop one after another.
Finally after 8 hours we were ready to leave on our last flight back home
18th September 2006
BKK-MEL
TG 981
Airbus A340-600
Boarding
Is that a welcome drink I spot again?
Ready for pushback
Fly 1-2-Go B757 near us
Takeoff and so began the meal service
Main course - I had some Pork dish it was very spicy
Cheese and Fruit
Dessert - Asian Cakes
Our route for this 8 hour flight
Catching the usual Australian jetstream zipping along at 1096 klms/h
Breakfast
Fruit and yoghurt entree
Main
Finally back in my home town of Melbourne
Landing in MEL, listen at the 55 second mark, we braked really hard, I nearly slipped of the seat you can hear everything flying in the cabin.
Welcome aboard Malaysia Airlines! Winner of Best Cabin Staff 2001,2002,2003,2004,2007,2009
B707Stu From United States of America, joined Feb 2005, 918 posts, RR: 4 Reply 1, posted (3 years 4 months 2 weeks 6 days 12 hours ago) and read 30481 times:
Brilliant trip report. Thanks. Which was your favorite aircraft? the 500 or 600? Thai's service looks pretty good but not to SQ standards.
well that was a great picture report!
You'll have to write a report on MH sometime! In the end what airline do you think has a better service?
~Cheers-
~~Kyle H.
to some people the sky is the limit, to aviation enthusiasts, its home!
Salvation From United States of America, joined Jun 2001, 170 posts, RR: 0 Reply 4, posted (3 years 4 months 2 weeks 6 days 8 hours ago) and read 30205 times:
I've now read several TG reports in J, and they all represent TG as a very professional and accommodating airline.
Thanks for sharing, I hope I can fly them one day.
FlyingKangaroo From Australia, joined Apr 2004, 530 posts, RR: 4 Reply 5, posted (3 years 4 months 2 weeks 6 days 6 hours ago) and read 30099 times:
Great report. Loved the pics. It's about time TG caught up with the competition with new cabins and service. It looks great.
Quoting Chrisrad (Thread starter): Had to wait 8 hours in the lounge, quite frankly this was the worst lounge TG had, noisy and crowded ,kids running around, not much food selection.
I agree completely. We were there in November, and it hadn't changed one bit since we were last there in 1998. It was so crowded we couldn't get a seat, and went straight to the lounge you first when to in the report. While much smaller, it was heaps brighter, cleaner, quieter, and just overall felt more lounge-ish.
Quoting Alaskaqantas (Reply 2): Quoting Chrisrad (Thread starter):and went to the Air New Zealand lounge being used by TG for this flight
Isn't htat one new? I believe thats the one they made to be like the kiwi batch!
It looked new, I assume it was then.
Quoting B707Stu (Reply 1): Which was your favorite aircraft? the 500 or 600? Thai's service looks pretty good but not to SQ standards.
I thought the 600 was quieter, perhaps because I was a little bit further foward from the engines. Both aircraft were by far quieter than their Boeing counterparts.
Well SQ hasnt exactly been winning awards for their service the last few years, so it's all subjective. Considering the airfare was less than half of SQ, I had no complaints
Quoting VHVXB (Reply 3): Any part of the trip you wish you were flying on MH?
Yes, flying MEL-KUL instead, KUL is a heaven of peace and quiet compared to BKK. Next year I shall return!
Welcome aboard Malaysia Airlines! Winner of Best Cabin Staff 2001,2002,2003,2004,2007,2009
Skip17 From United States of America, joined Oct 2005, 63 posts, RR: 1 Reply 8, posted (3 years 4 months 2 weeks 6 days 3 hours ago) and read 29868 times:
767747 From United States of America, joined Jan 2005, 860 posts, RR: 11 Reply 9, posted (3 years 4 months 2 weeks 6 days 3 hours ago) and read 29863 times:
Great report and pictures! Thai Airways "Royal Silk" looks great. I hope to fly them soon. The deserts all look very good!
777fan From United States of America, joined Jan 2006, 1905 posts, RR: 3 Reply 12, posted (3 years 4 months 2 weeks 5 days 21 hours ago) and read 29521 times:
Wonderful job - that has to be some of the longest routing I've ever seen on a TR! Not surprisingly, TG appears to have put a great product together for the long haul. I've only flown them a couple of times (Y class, no less) but was impressed (food was great).
Mrs. 777fan and I are going to be in MEL for a couple of days in November for our one year anniversary - any recommendations?!
Thanks,
777fan
"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing" - Edmund Burke
Qantasclub From Australia, joined Nov 2003, 726 posts, RR: 2 Reply 14, posted (3 years 4 months 2 weeks 5 days 10 hours ago) and read 29185 times:
Gday Chrisrad.
Great trip report-really loved your pictures and videos. I reckon airbus planes all have a very similar engine 'hum' that is very distinctive and much quieter than the roar of Boeing aircraft.
I agree about those casserole dishes in Thai-they also use them on CX and they do look terrible, even though the food may be ok.
Incidently, where did you book your J class airfares-through an agent or on the Thai website?
I find that for aerophiles like us who live in Melbourne and enjoy premium travel, it is often much more fun to go to the US via Asia given that Qantas charges the same if not more for much less 'experience'.
You should try SQ to LAX or EWR via Changi. It's an amazing experience.But given the cost, I would have done the same.
Chrisrad From Australia, joined Dec 2000, 892 posts, RR: 9 Reply 15, posted (3 years 4 months 2 weeks 5 days 10 hours ago) and read 29167 times:
Quoting 777fan (Reply 12): Wonderful job - that has to be some of the longest routing I've ever seen on a TR!
Beleive me I almost died on the return journey, was on the road back home for well over 50 hours. It's almost a week now since I returned and still having problems with jetlag.
Quoting 777fan (Reply 12): Mrs. 777fan and I are going to be in MEL for a couple of days in November for our one year anniversary - any recommendations?!
Where do I begin, Melbourne is the cultural centre for Australia. Let me know what you like and I can give some tips.
Quoting KLM685 (Reply 13): Keep on with the good work! I'm looking forward for another trip report from you.
I still have to do BKK-HKT-BKK on TG and OX then LAX-LAS-SFO-LAX-IAD-BOS on UA then BOS-MCO-JFK on Jetblue. Though with not quite as many photos, there is only so much you can photo on a packet of nuts and a orange juice...
Plus I still have quite alot of videos to upload
Quoting Qantasclub (Reply 14): Great trip report-really loved your pictures and videos. I reckon airbus planes all have a very similar engine 'hum' that is very distinctive and much quieter than the roar of Boeing aircraft.
Yes, definately quieter I remember the first takeoff from MEL I was stunned at how quiet it was, you could easily hold a conversation even at that sound level. I feel the airconditioning is also a lot quieter than Boeing.
Quoting Qantasclub (Reply 14): Incidently, where did you book your J class airfares-through an agent or on the Thai website?
Through Flight Centre
Quoting Qantasclub (Reply 14): I find that for aerophiles like us who live in Melbourne and enjoy premium travel, it is often much more fun to go to the US via Asia given that Qantas charges the same if not more for much less 'experience'.
You should try SQ to LAX or EWR via Changi. It's an amazing experience.But given the cost, I would have done the same.
Well for $3750 AUD, you cant really compare it to either QF or SQ prices.
Welcome aboard Malaysia Airlines! Winner of Best Cabin Staff 2001,2002,2003,2004,2007,2009
Boeing 747-311 From United States of America, joined Mar 2001, 794 posts, RR: 0 Reply 17, posted (3 years 4 months 2 weeks 4 days 19 hours ago) and read 28824 times:
KE086 From United States of America, joined Jul 2005, 107 posts, RR: 2 Reply 21, posted (3 years 4 months 2 weeks 3 days 6 hours ago) and read 28126 times:
Very good trip report. One of the BEST!!!!! I love thai airways
The black dot that came to haunt all 1200 photos I took while I was away. Not sure how dirt gets on the sensor of a point and shoot digital camera
Welcome aboard Malaysia Airlines! Winner of Best Cabin Staff 2001,2002,2003,2004,2007,2009
25 WN230: Fantastic tr! Loved all your pics, envying you being able to fly biz class (veteran of flying cattle class ). Very well done and hope to do a RTW tr l
26 Chrisrad: Hopefully will, though not until next year at this stage. Hope to get a better camera by then as well. Thanks for the support
27 Wazobia: Thank you!! I enjoyed reading your report Good job!
28 777fan: We're into live music, love good food and also enjoy a good pub. IIRC, we'll be staying at the Park Hyatt. Thanks in advance, 777fan
29 Pilotdude09: Great report, the pictures and videos make it really interesting, i cant beleive you only paid $3750, thats on par with the higher QF Y fares on SYD-L
30 Chrisrad: Yes, hence why I never fly with QF. Their J class fares to the US are outrages IMHO
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